Matthew Moroun in his office at Central Transport headquarters in Warren, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. "These things, the train station and the bridge, they're iconic to the community," says Matthew, who inherits not only the family business but the family reputation from his father. "I understand that. I grew up in a different time. I'm trying to be civic-minded. I'm tying to open dialogue instead of fighting at every turn."(Photo: Kathleen Galligan, Detroit Free Press)Buy Photo

The Free Press and other media have reported that Ford has been working to buy the depot. The automaker is expected to make an announcement soon disclosing its next steps.

Moroun, the son of family patriarch Manuel (Matty) Moroun, will meet the media in front of the station, according to a media advisory from his office released Sunday afternoon.

As the Free Press and other news outlets have reported, the Moroun family recently transferred the title to the historic train station to a new business entity established by a law firm that is linked to Ford. Ford's interest in the train station as part of a Corktown campus has been widely discussed but never officially confirmed by either Ford or the Morouns.

Ford recently transferred about 200 of its mobility team into a former factory site in Corktown and is reported to be interested in multiple other parcels in the district. A nearby building, a former school book depository also long held by Moroun, also was sold to an entity linked to the same law firm.

Vacant for roughly three decades, a revitalized Michigan Central Station would represent a huge step and psychological win in Detroit redevelopment efforts, akin to last winter's groundbreaking by Dan Gilbert for a skyscraper at the former Hudson's site downtown.

For years, the vacant and vandalized train station stood as one of Detroit's worst eyesores and an international symbol of Detroit's downfall.

For it to be revived now by Ford, and as the center for creating future mobility systems, would represent a stunning turnaround even in a city that has gotten used to major announcements in the greater downtown.

Visit www.freep.com Monday morning for full coverage of Moroun's announcement.

Contact John Gallagher: 313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jgallagherfreep.